Blabbermouth reports: A new Kurt Cobain action figure, which features the striped sweater and stringy hairstyle the late NIRVANA frontman sported in his band's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" video, will be available via NECA (National Entertainment Collectibles Association) in late June.

'Whole Lotta Rosie'?  Must be Grandma.
RockandRollDream.com offers new free guitar ringtones for downloading including Chemical Dream, Taylor Van, and Van Paul and the Forever Red.  Now you can irritate folks at restaurants, movie theaters, elevators and funerals with "Rock Song."  Isn't America great?

Puyallup Fair concerts
Speaking of great, the folks at the Puyallup Fair continue to roll out their Western Washington Fair concert schedule.  The latest to hit the lineup is MercyMe, playing Sept. 15 at 7 p.m.  Other entertainers announced so far include Kenny Rogers/The Oak Ridge Boys, Sept. 11; Montgomery Gentry, Sept. 12; and Third Day, Sept. 21.  MercyMe tickets go on sale April 1, 11 a.m. at Ticketmaster.  Gradstand is free â�" floor level is $15.

Queensryche offers a new piece of Mind

Billboard reports: With the April 4 arrival of "Operation: Mindcrime II" (Rhino Records), thousands of Queensryche fans will finally get to hear the second chapter of a story that began in 1988. That was when the Seattle band released "Operation: Mindcrime," a hard-rocking concept album that has been favorably compared to Pink Floyd's "The Wall" and the Who's "Tommy." See full story here.

Ricardo's on Sixth Avenue shut done the pasta machine closing its doors permanently.  Asado, the new South American 4-star across the street, plans to open a high-end Mexican restaurant in Ricardo's spot sometime in November.

We aren't surprised. Ricardo's had decent meals but nothing to warrant being located in the hottest district now in the South Sound.  I'll keep you up to date. 

NPR's "Morning Edition" profiles Tacoma-bred singer-songwriter Neko Case. Case's new album, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, has just been released. 

You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll wince. It's the 72-Hour Film Competition.
The Grand Cinema is hosting the second 72-Hour Film Competition this May. Teams or individual filmmakers will receive their "assignments" Thursday, May 18, at 10 p.m. at the Grand Cinema. From that moment, competitors have until Sunday, May 21 at 10 p.m. - 72 hours - to write, shoot, and edit a 5-minute film.
The films will be screened to the public and the filmmakers at the Rialto Theater, Thursday, May 25 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10, and $8 for Grand Cinema members. A panel of judges will award prizes. In addition to prizes, the best film of the competition will be played in front of features at the Grand Cinema.
Interested filmmakers should sign up at the Grand Cinema by calling (253) 572-6062 or e-mailing the Grand. There is a $40 participation fee for each entering team, which will cover admission to the screening at the Rialto.

Sub Pop Records reports: Tune in April 1st to the International Film Channel to catch the premiere episode of "The Henry Rollins Show" featuring a performance from Sleater-Kinney.  "The Henry Rollins Show" is a new weekly independent talk show hosted by Henry, featuring high integrity guests, topics and uncensored musical performances. The show airs every Saturday night on IFC at 7 and 10 p.m.

Fandango will give Ticketmaster a run for its money.  Starting today, the movie ticket company with a hand-puppet fetish offers tickets to live events at their Web site. Enter your zipcode and search the database of available shows.

Randy Oxford Blues Theater All Ages Open Jam
Playing upwards of 200 gigs a year and hosting several jams throughout the Puget Sound, Randy Oxford is the hardest working musician in the Northwest, and the trombone man has just added one more engagement to his monthly calendar.  Beginning March 29, Oxford and his band will be hosting a weekly jam at Jazzbones dubbed The Randy Oxford Blues Theater All Ages Open Jam. 
Because of the popularity of Oxford's long-running Wednesday Night Blues Theater Jam at Jake's Ales for the last five years he had no less than five offers from venues wanting him to continue the show at their place.  Oxford went with Jazzbones because of their willingness to get young musicians involved. "Jazzbones has always been kid friendly, and now Jason McKinnon really wants to present the opportunity for kids to be exposed to the blues and also get a chance on stage jamming with the pros," says Oxford.  The Wednesday night happening will be free and run from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. with minors able to participate until 11 p.m.  The maiden voyage of the latest Oxford jam will feature 17-year-old guitar sensation Ian Crawford along with Doug Skoog from Blues Alliance. 7 p.m., all ages, no cover, Jazzbones, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma. - Tony Engelhart

Punch-pop trio Don't Tell Sophie has plotted out the timeline for their self-produced sophomore record, the follow-up to the band's eye-opening, limited-release debut album
Picture Words. The band will begin tracking what will hopefully become 16 new songs on May 1 for a tentative summer release. The crunchy, catchy indie style of these art school fiends has garnered them a faithful fan following, ready to dance at the slightest hint of a Don't Tell Sophie or Greenfield (guitarist/singer Paul Dally's solo moniker) sighting. If you haven't already, track down this buzzy band's first album and even harder-to-find debut EP for a first-hand lesson in what Tacoma music should really taste like. - Mike Stasiak